The Best Change

Bev Wright

Lisa Reuschman

Laura Barcalow

Codiann Spencer Taylor - Jett Emmanuel Thomas Taylor last night

Peanuts Joke - Lucy was complaining about how her new year was quickly not going so well and how things were immediately starting off wrong. She told Charlie Brown, “I’m not happy with this new year at all. I think we’ve been stuck with a used one.”

Well I hope and pray that your new years is one where you’re closer to God. Relying more on His spirit. Sharing the news of Jesus in many different ways.

You know…if those things can happen, any situation we’re in can be overcome…no matter the earthly outcome.

Here’s to a new year of new awareness of God in your life. Amen?!

With that said, today is going to be a bit of a thought experiment for us. Maybe some philosophy. I think you’ll see where this goes right away. Just stay awake with me long enough for something to click.

So we’re going to look at the foundation of change. Why we change, how we change, where does change lead to…stuff like that.

New Years is a famous time of the year to discuss change. Many people will think about the past year and try to peak into the future.

Peach and I have a friend who sends a Christmas card each year…a picture of her family…and then a one page update. She writes about what has happened the last year and what hopes they have for the next.

I think many of us are like that. We look back…wonder what could have been…or what could be better…and then think about changes for the next year.

Many will make resolutions too. Commitments to change.

An inventory of what happened, hopes for what could happen in the future.

Change to be better. Get better. Start doing some things. Stop doing other things.

Change. I think most of us look forward to change…in a good way. Lot’s of us don’t like the word change…but most all of us know that if we don’t change occasionally we’ll be stuck or less healthy or less…whatever.

Right?

So that’s what we’ll start with. Change. And I understand…that’s a four letter word to many of us.

How many of you had 2022 resolutions?

How did that go?

Are you considering 2023 resolutions?

So a resolution is something that you “resolve” or commit to do or…stop doing.

So often at New Years…we find it an easy time to commit to change. This year I will…I commit…

And maybe it’s easier because others are doing the same.

This is the time of the year when gym memberships fly off the shelves. For the next few weeks, the gyms will be packed. People have studied this. After about 4 weeks…things start change. Now, people won’t let go of there commitment…the monthly fee will still be on their bank statement…because they might just go back…commitment is there but the follow-through falls short.

But the majority of people will try. It’s because to resolve to do something is bigger than

I’ll think about it.

I’ll consider it.

I’ll get around to it.

Well many of us…in considering new year’s resolutions, we’ll think about it this way. Do I really need to change?

We will think about past regrets and mistakes and habits…but we’ll think we can get by.

Problem is, deep down we know truth. Truth is…we all need to change things don’t we. Now for all of us it won’t be the same thing(s)…but change is necessary.

Let’s look at it this way…Paul wrote “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

Most of us don’t go that deep though when we think about change do we? We think about

eating McDonald’s less

gym membership

that weekly savings account deposit.

weight loss

Maybe if we go deeper...

maybe changing your outlook on life

less worry

positive habits

a break in an addiction

stop doing certain things

start doing certain things

maybe you’re looking at ways to get closer to God

And it might be…that you’re just going to try something new…change things up a bit.

CHANGE - It almost looks to be a necessary thing for us.

It looks like it is something most all of us are drawn to in one way or another.

Something that all of us know is necessary for something in life.

Ok....that’s the first part. Change. Looks necessary for some reason.

Randy was unsure about his choice of clothes for church so he sought some counsel from his wife. He asked, “Do you think I should change?”

She took advantage of the opportunity and replied, “It depends—are you talking about changing your shirt or making a wholesale change as a human being?”

Want some rough news? Change is hard.

based on a recent study...

41% will try a new years resolution

59% will consider it…but won’t attempt.

reasons…past attempts, past failures, don’t know how or who to ask for help.

Want some more rough news?

91% of those who set new goals for change in the new year....won’t achieve them.

9% will feel some success.

Change is tough isn’t it? We know it might be needed or helpful…we know something more is out there…but it’s often hard to get there.

One person looked at a friend on NYE and commented how much he loved it when they dropped the ball at times square. He said, “It reminds me of what I’ve done all year long.”

Change is hard. Most of realize that we’re drawn to change …for some reason…but it’s hard to get there sometime.

But here’s what I think…the need or want to change has to be connected with something bigger than ourselves.

I think our gut tells us there’s a reason.

We want something better ...

maybe because we’re discontent

different because we’re bored

maybe we want to do right because we’ve realized, on some level, that the choices we’ve made have been wrong.

jobs, parenting, finances, emotions, relationships, health,

God’s word, relationship with Jesus, Christian walk, how we live within the family of God …the church.

Each of these things quietly says to us...

There’s something we’re missing

There’s something better out there

There’s got to be more to this life

Lots of people change and change and change....thinking that eventually, we’ll arrive! Maybe that’s you. It’s been me for sure.

If you were to stack all the changes that people made in the world that were for the positive…and all of those things were succesful, we’d still be wanting more…something different. Something more right.

To say it more simply, we’d still be missing something or needing something.

Change seems to be a needed thing.

Change is a hard thing.

But maybe…change is calling us to something deeper.

I follow some running apps, trainers, workout gurus online. And because I follow some of these people, I receive ads in my news feed that want me to sign up for their stuff…for their program…for their daily insight...

And it’s all the best the most expertise better than anything else out there. The ad says…you have to have this or your life is going to be horrible. Buy this today…and ....at a discount!

I think the world…now when I say the world, I’m making a distinction between God’s spirit and what we might call the face of evil.

I think the world knows that humanity needs a change. And so we have the world calling out....here’s how you change. Here’s what you need.

The world will say these things are ok and even best.

The world will even go to say, ignore other voices.

…those other voices may very well be God’s whisper, the call of the Holy Spirit, a friend or neighbor who God is working through.

We have to be very careful who we listen to for advice.

What if we’re told the wrong information?

What if we have the wrong motivation to change?

What if we’re being manipulated by someone else’s needs and wants?

What if the voice we’re listening to, isn’t the right one?

Here’s what this comes down to.

We know there’s something inside us calling for change.

I think…this call is a reminder of something we lost in the beginning. When sin entered the world.

I think we’ve all probably thought about this at times. We’ve all wondered…What will make life great?

What could I do differently to change everything for the better?

And here comes the voices...

You’ll feel better if you do this or that.

You’ll find meaning and purpose if you just do this or that.

You’ll have a full life if you just give into these or those feelings.

Scripture has a ton to share with us about these things.

And to be sure, I’m talking about the foundational, truly bedrock ideas about change.

I could make all the resolutions I want…say about eating healthier. There’ll be 1000 people and companies wanting my attention....wanting me to bend towards their wisdom. And some of it might be great…even very healthy.

But in the end, there will always be a next thing.....there will always be the next thing that says, “this will make you feel more alive than ever.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 CSB

11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.

We know its in there…full life, purpose and meaning. Significance. Peace, Joy.

But to get to it…that’s what’s hard.

And so sometimes we listen to each other on how to discover full life. Or we come up with things on our own.

But will following human wisdom…even though some of it might be great…will that get us to where we want or need to be?

If all of humanity has trouble seeing the big picture of how to have the fullness of life…then it looks like people might not be the final authority.

How about ourselves? Surely we can figure things out on our own. We’re smart enough. Tough enough. Good enough.

Jeremiah 17:9 NIV

9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

I think God is trying to tell us something.

Psalm 146:3 NIV

3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.

Psalm 146:5–6 NIV

5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever.

Well that sounds logical. Go to the one who knows how to fix everything, remake everything, He creates new hearts.

Psalm 51:10–13 LEB

10 Create a clean heart for me, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and with a willing spirit sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.

David says I’ve figured something out. My heart needs changed. My spirit needs made new.

This is because of sin. And in this Psalm, David says God saves him.

And then…David goes on to say…ok so if I can figure this out…I will teach others, show others....so that just maybe, they’ll turn back to you too.

I think that’s a picture for us isn’t it. A picture for the church. For every Christian. I need a heart change. God is the only one who can provide a heart change. This heart change from God saves me. And so…I’ll tell others about this incredible thing.

David also wrote this…and he wrote this as if God were speaking.

Psalm 32:8–10 CSB

8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel. 9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you. 10 Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him.

David writes something here that helps us in our change. Lots of times we’re wondering who best to listen to.

And for sure, God has given expertise and the ability to learn and be wise to all people.

And there are some very wise people out there, both believers in Jesus and those who don’t, who are well trained and have great understanding in their fields. We could even call them authorities. Be it medical or health related what not…counselors, financial advisors, those people we might search out for help with New Year’s resolutions…with change...

But there’s one who tops all of them.

Remember all the good change in the world…if you were to be successful at it all…have great health, wealth and generosity, great family and people around you...

In the end …all of that great change will still leave you in the same spot unless you allow that one thing to be changed.

I say allow…because it needs to be changed by someone else.

The one who has the authority…the expertise…to do it.

The creator of heaven and earth.

Jesus Christ.

Without him, you may live a great life, even a happy life here, but “here” is just part of life isn’t it. There’s a here-after.

Change - We all feel the need for it in and through our lives.

We know that there’s something always missing.

It points back to what we all lost through the effects of sin.

There is one who wants to bring that life back to us.

He has all authority to do it.

We just need to humble ourselves before Him.

1 Peter 5:5–11 (CSB)

5 ...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time,

7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.

11 To him be dominion forever. Amen.

God wants to change you. He wants you to have a great life here…but we understand that there are troubles here too. But His eye is on eternity. And He asks us to keep our eyes on that perspective as well.

Be changed forever through Him.

If that’s what you want today....

Happy New Year.